Mail-chute.



J, w. CUTLER.

MAIL 01mm APPLIOATIbH FILED DEC. 12, 1906'.

Patented Dec. 14,1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. W. CUTLER.

MAIL GHUTE. urmouxon 211.1111 nn0.12,*1eos.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

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Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

J. W. CUTLER. MAIL UHUTE. APPLICATION I'ILED DEG. I2, 1906.

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-certain improvements on the line a'w of Fig. 1.

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aosnrn: WARREN cornea, or noonns rnn, new roan, ASSIGNOR, BY unsure assrcns MENIS, T0 CUTLER MAIL onu'ss CGMPANY, or nocnns'rnn, new YORK, a sour PORATION OF NEW YORK.

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To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, dossrn WARREN Cu'r- LER, of Rochester, inthe county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Chutes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the. same, reference being had to the accompanyii'ig drawings, forming a part of this specification, andto the reference numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to mail chutes and hasvforits object to provide a chute the parts of which are so constructed and arranged that not only may theybe readily erected, but access may be had to the interior for the purpose of removing obstructions or clearing the chute and the chute dismantled or new sectionsinserted by authorized persons only, and to these and other ends the invention consists in and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully explained, the novel features being pointed out in the, claims at thee'nd of the specification. i

In the drawings: Fi I vation of a portion 0' a chute embodying one stor Y constructed in accordance with my invention and embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 a Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of the upper and lower ends Of a portion of the chute between floors, the parts intermediate the length being re moved Fig. is a horizontal sectional view Fig. 6' is a perbrackets interure 1 is a front elespective view of one of the niediatethe sections and the end of one;of the sections, Fig. 7 is a front elevation'of the securing devices for the upper end of the chute having the locking bar open. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the locking device at the base section: Fig. -9 is a vertical seetional view on the line g y of Fig.

Similar-deference muneral's in th figures indicate similar parts' I havezonly deemed itnecessaryto I the drawings the portion of the chute standing between the ceiling and floor of one,

floor of the *building,it being understood that the extreme lower end of the chuteis connected with asuitable receptacle or mail boxiand that the portions located at the other floors are similar to the one shown.

Specification ,of lietters Patent. I fap neaaoi filedDticemher 12,1906. Serial No. sense v 1 the inner ed e ral of a. bar 21,

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In the preferred" form'of theinvention the chutesections themselves are of. the general shape and arrangement of that shown. in my priorpatent No. 758,128, embodying the rear channel member or portion 1 constructed of sheet metal having the flanges 2 at the side, the forward ends of which latter are provided with inwardlyturned flanges 3. The front of the section consists of a movable panel or portion, composed in the present instance of a frame 4 containing the glass or transparent front 5. This panel or portion is hinged to the rear channel by hinges 6, and in my prior patent, the joints between the sides of the panel and the side and flanges of the channel are so arranged as to be protected from the entrance of mail matter descending the chute. The ends of the chute sections are reinforced by bands '7, secured to the channel, and the ends of-the movable panels are provided with angle bars 8, as shown in Fig. 9, which project slightly at the front. As the front panels shown are hinged at one side, the opposite side is secured by a longitudinal looking bar 9 having slotted brackets 10- adapted to engage with pins or projections -l l on the inner edges of the panel,-said barsi9 being guided to move in right lines by studs or projections 12 extending jhrough them shown. These locking bars serve to secure of the panels at intervals in their length to prevent separation of the parts, for as will is described, the ends of the panels or doors are locked by other The ultimate support of the chute is, or may be, the wall of the building, or a suitable structure erected in the building, which is. indicated by the reference numeral 13, and to this support are secured plates 14 in any suitable manner as by means of the screws or, bolts .15 passing through from the front side 'andcntering said support 13. in i lee provided withundercut recesses 16 open atf the present, einbodinient these plates ld'a're il t top and adaptedto receive'headed pro jec ens l7 locatedon the rearside of bracketsl-S. Said bracketsare provided at their ends with forwardlyprojecting arms 19,

around three sides of the hraclget and across the front in the form the inner side of which is cor respondingly beveled, the lower edge of the 10s and wlththe inwardlyextending beveled flange 20 entendln flange and bar'extending inwardly beyond the inner walls of the upper end of the chute section below it to prevent the lodgment of mail matter thereon.

At the ends of the bracket 18 are provided movable catches or projection 22 passing inwardly through the bracket, and adapted to engage corresponding recesses formed in the reinforcing strips 7 at the ends of the sections, said catches in the present instance being mounted upon the ends of spring arms 23, whereby they are automatically held in place, but may be disengaged when desired.

24, indicates a movable member in the form of a hollow cross bar or frame adapted to extend across between the forwardly-extending arms of the brackets and to be secured 1n position by a locking device operable only by a key, said member serving not only to hold the chute sections in place on the bracket, but to lock the removable panels in position, and incidentally to secure the side locking rods J of one of the adjacent sections. In the present embodiment this member 24 is hinged at one end, as indicated at 25, to the bracket, and its opposite or free end is provided with a movable locking bolt 26 adapted to be rotated to engage with a recess 27 formed in a 'lforwardly-projecl.ing portion on the bracket, in this instance on the cross bar This bolt :20 is capable of actuation only by means of a removable key such as 28, the ward plates 25) arranged in the lock casing 30 serving io prevent the actuation of the bolt excepting by a key having the proper configuration. The member 24. is also provided with inwaidly-extending flanges 31 which extend, when the bar is in position, over and below the bars 8 forming part of the frames of the movable panels, as shown in l ig. t}.

When. the movable panels are securtal in position by the locking bars 9, the upper ends of the latter are brought; below l are secured by the movable nn-mlirrs 2i when in locked position, said member having a down-- ward projection It) cxtcntling forwaroly of the upper cndof said bar to prevent its be ing bent outwardly by maliciously disposed Pel'SOllS.

lVhile a number of the chute sections may are usually (TOIHPGllSttttftl for by making the.

upper or ceiling sections of various or dif- 5 ferent lengths, so that the main sections em- 'bodying the movable transparent panels for permitting acccssto the interior of the chute may be of a standard length. As the brackets forming the mediate supports for the chute sections are connected to the ultimate support 13 by the slot and pin connections shown, which are disengaged by a vertical movement, it is necessary to prevent this vertical disengaging movement, which would enable the chute to be taken down, by a member or part controlled by a key lock,

which latter is operable by a. key in the hands of an authorized person only.

In the present embodiment of the invention I secure the bracket nearest the ceiling, and which is indicated by 18*, rigidly in position after the chute is erected, by what may be termed a key-1 iece or movable abutment arranged between said bracket and a suitable stationary abutment, in the present instance the ceiling, or an equivalent stationary part, indicated by 50. In the preferred form this key-piece is the top or cornice section 51 extending around three sides of the chute proper and covering the lower end 32 of the chute or conduit proper,.which extends from the floor above. The lower end of this cornice section is provided with a downwardlyrxtending flange 32 which is secured by screws or other 'fastenimg's 34 to the cross bar 21 of the upper bracket. and when the member 24 cooperating with this bracket, is in position and locked, access to these screws I l is prevented, so that the chute as a whole is secured in position by the l\'(y 1)ltc6 or cornice section and the latter is secured from unauthorizetl movement by the upper movable member ll.

The base 35 consists ot a hollow ornamental casting resting upon the floor and secured to the support 13 at its rear side in any suitable manner to prevent forward movement, as for instance by providing it with a cross bar I-i'cn, aging in a suitable bracket or block 137 swan-ed in position by fastcnings which are covered by the base,-

the diz-aengagcnsent. of the parts being zit-cone plishcd by a vertical movement only. This base is held in position against the lloor by the lowermost locked member 24, which engages its upper side as shown in Fig. -l, and the tubular chute section 40 passing downwardly through the floor is provided with the reinforcing collar or band 41 at its upper end, and is held up by the" angular plate 42 secured in position to the cross bar 21 of the bracket by the screws or fastening devices 43, these screws being inaccessible, excepting when the movable member 24 is unlocked and turned bacluvard, as shown in Fig. 8.

The aperture for the introdin-tion of mail a nirturc brin in the to of the mailin sec ill) stones 53 tion or frame 45, this not being essentially different from that shown in my prior patent No. 758,128, but if desired, may be of any suitable construction.

From the above description it will be readily seen that when the chute is in position with all the movable members locked. there is no possibility of either removing the chute from its support, or of obtaining access to the interior, but when it. is desired to open the chute for the purpose of removing obstructions, or cleaning it, it: is only necesary to insert and turn the key in two ofthe ockcd members at opposite ends of the panel which it is desired to remove, to turn them back on their hinges; then to disengage the lockin bar 9 and swing out the panel or movab e portion, the channel or rear portion of the section being held in the bracket either .by friction, or by the movable pins 22 If it should be desired to remove a section for the I in 086s of re )airs or otherwise it may be readily accon iplishcd by 'withdrawing the ins 22, while the members 24 are removed. Vhile in the present embodiment the bracketsare movable on the ultimate support 13, the two sections of the chute and their brackets can not be moved vertically until the key or cornice section is disengaged from the upperbracket, and this can only be accomplished by the removal of the upper member 24 and the screws.

In this construction, therefore, we have a chute which is secured to its ultimate support in such manner that it cannot be removed except by anthorize'd persons, and the same locking means also serves to prevent access to the interior of the chute, or the removal of any part or panel which would permit this access.

It will be understood that the movable panel or part of the chute is not necessarily the front as shown, as the invention comprehends broadly means controlled by a key lock for not only securingthe partsor members of the chute together, but to a support or backing upon which it is mounted.

In my pending application Serial No. 229,749, filed Oct. 2%, 1904, I have claimed broadly the locking bar for the chute sections or parts and in application Serial NO.

276,515, a division of the former, a covering means for the chute section securing means. I claim as my invention:

. 1. A mail ch' 'e composed of superposed separately removable sections, each having a hinged pan el at the front, in combination with bars extend ingz transversely of the chute atadjacentcnds of the sections and over the y'ods of the hinged panels and key locks for securing said bars in position.

2. A {hail chute composed of superposed sections each having a movable panel for permitting access to the interior of the chute, in combination with cross bars engaging the j adjacent ends of the sections and key locks for securing said cross bars in position.

A mail chute composed of superposed removable sections each having a movable panel for permitting access to the. interior of the chute in combination with cross bars ong'aging the adjacent ends at the panels and key locks for securing said cross bars in position.' j

l. A mail chute composed of superposed sections each having a movable panel for permitting access to the interior of the chute, in combination with stationary brackets located at the adjacent ends of the sections, a remoyable cross bar extending over the ends of the panels and a key-controlled lock for controlling the removal of said bar.

A. mail chute composed of superposed removable sections each having a movable panel for permitting access tothe interior of the chute, in combination with stationary brackets located at. the adja ent ends of the sections, a removable cross bar extending over the ends of the panels and a key-controlled lock for preventing the removal of said bar.

(i. A mail chute composed of superposed sections each having a movable panel for permitting access to the interior of the chute, in combination with stationary bracle cts having arms engaging the sides of the chute sections adjacent their ends, a movable cross bar engaging the forwardly-ex tending arms of the bracket and a key-controlled lock for preventing the removal of said bar.

7. A mail chute composed of superposed removable sections each ha vin g a movable panel for permitting'access to the interior of the chute, in combination with stationary brackets having arms engaging the sides of the chute sections adjacent their ends. a movable cross bar engaging the forwardlyextending arms of the bracket and a keycontrolled lock for preventing the removal of said bar.

8. A mail chute embodying superpowd removable channels-open at the front and movable panels for closing the front, in combination with a stationary bracket having forwardly-extendinn" arms engaging the sides of the channels, a cross" bar engaging' said arms and cooperating with the panels of adjacent sections and a key lock for preventing the removal of said cros: bar.

9. The combination with a support, of a mail chute embodyin separately removable channels having. movable panels and keycontrolled locking, devices for securing said panels in position and also holding the. channels to the support.

10. 111 a'inail chute, the combination with a support, a plurality of, superposed chute sections, a bracket on the support embracing the sides of the ends of adjacent sections and a removable locking plate coi'ipcrating with the arms of said bracket. 7

.11. In :1 tnail chute the combination with a support and a bracket thereon. having the forwardly extending arms. of tubular chttte sections having their proximate ends located between the bracket arms. a bar cooperating at its ends with the bracket artns and a key lock for securing said bar in position.

1-2. In :1 mail chute the combination with :1 support and :1 bracket thereon. having the forwardly extending arms. of tttbttlar chute sections having their proximate ends located between the bracket arms. a locking bar extending between the arms. and :1 movable bolt mounted on the bar adapted to he actuated by a removable key.

13. in :1 mail chute the combination with the clntte sections. ol the support. the bracket thereon having the web thereon with which the ends of the section coo erate and the forwardly ext ending arms. the lock ing bar cooperating with the outer ends ot the arms and a key lock tot-securing the bar in position.

14. In a mail chute the combination with the chute sections. of the support. the bracket thereon having the arms and the web on the rear portion and arms with which the ends of the sections cooperate. the movable locking bar cooperating with the ends of the arms and a key lock for securi w' the bar in position.

15. The combination with a support. plate secured thereto, a bracket on the plate preventing access to the plate securing devices, in combination with a tnail chute embodvin sen-arable channels en 'aging the u h A bracket, removablepanels tor the channels and key controlled means on the bracket cooperating with the ends of the panels on adjacent sections to hold them in engagement with the brackets.

16. The combination with a support. a plate secttred thereto, and a bracket on the plate open at the front, of chute sections having their ends extending within the bracket; and having the removable panels, :1 movable locking bar engaging the panels and a key lock for controlling the movement of said bar; 1

' 17. The combination with two mail chute channels having movable panels. of a bracket enibracing the rear anti sides of said channels, a removable bar engaging the trout. arms of the bracket and extending over the ends of the panels of adjacent sections and key controlled locking tneans for preventing the removal of said bar.

t8. The combination with a bracket havingthe forwardly extending arms, of mail chute sections embodying rear channelsand removable panels at the front, the ends ol said sections being arranged between the arms ot the brackets, a. removable bar etc gaging the. ends of the brackets and key controlled locking devices for preventing its removal.

li The combination with a plate having the vertical recesses, the bracket having the studs entering said recesses. the arms at the sides. the interior beveled web, the front cross bar, and the catches at the sides of the chute sections having their ends extended between the arms and engaged by the catches and having the movable panels at the front with bars at the ends, and the removable hollow cross bar extending over the bars on the panels and on the bracket and means tor securing said hollow bar in position.

it). The combination with the bracket. having the arms at the sides, the Web eX-. tending on said arms and a bar at the front, of the chute sectionshaving the panels hinged at one side and a cross bar hinged to one of the arms on the same side as the hinges oi the panels and a key lock for securing the tree end of said bar to the other arm of the bracket.

it. The combination with a support, of a mail clnttc having a removable portion or panel to permit access to the interior thereof. means for securing the chute to the sup port and a movable member for preventing access to the securing means and also securing the removable portion or panel of the :lttttt in position and a key lock for securmg said member in position.

22. The combination with :t support, of a mail chute embodying a plurality of super-' posed sections, mounted on the su port and readily detachable therefrom by xovement in one direction, a key piece opera ing when in position to prevent the detachin movemcnt ot the sections and a key lock tor controlling the movement of Said key piece.

23. The combination with a support, of a mail chute mounted on the support and readily detachable therefrom by a. movement in one direction, a key piece operating when. in position to prevent the detaching movement of the section and a ke lock for controlling the movement of sait. key piece.

24. The combination with a support, of a mail ch'ute mounted on the support: and readily detachable therefrom by a movement, in one direction, a movable portion or panel for permitting access to the interior of the chute. a key piece operating when .in posiv1 0 tion to prevent the detaching movement of the section, a movable member and a key lock for controlling it, said member operatin to control the operation of the key piece and of the movable panel or portion.

25. The combination with a support, the brackets thereon having the arms, the movable cross bar and a key lock for securing it in position on the arms, of two adjacent: mail chute sections having movable portions gage the other arm of the or panels having their proximate 2G. The combination with a. suppoit, the bracket having the arms, the movable cross bar and a key lock for securing-it in. position on the arms, of chute sections having the movable portionsor panels and arranged with their ends between the arms of the bracket.

27. The combination with a support, the bracket having the arms, the movable cross bar and a key lock for securing it in position on the arms, of chute sections embodying the channels and movable portions or panels and arranged with their ends between the arms of the bracket and means for detachably holding the channels to the brackets, thus permitting the panels to be moved independently of the channels when the cross bar is removed.

28. The combination with a support, a bracket thereon having the internal rib or flange at the sides and rear and the bar at the front, of mail chute sections extending into the bracket fromabove and below, a movable cross bar at the front or" the bracket adapted to engage and hold the sections in position and a key lock for securing said bar.

29. The combination with a support, a plurality of vertically movable brackets thereon, of a plurality of mail chute sections engaging at their ends in the brackets, means for preventing the vertical movements of one of the brackets and a key lock for controlling the operation of said preventing means.

30. The combination with a support, a mail chute and connections between it the supportdetachable by a vertical move ment of the chute, of a stationary abutmentfor holding the chute and a movable aba ment between it and the chute for preventing movement of the latter and a. key lock for controlling the operation of said movable abutment.

31. The combination with a support, a bracket thereon having the arms, of a mail chute arranged between the bracket arms, the cross bar hinged to one arm and a key lock for securing the cross bar to the other arm.

32. The combination with a support, a bracket thereon having the arms, of a mail chute arranged between the bracket. arms, the cross bar hinged to one arm and a key lock located at its free end adapted to enbracket.

33. The combination with a support, of a mail chute secured thereto by detachable fastenings, a cornice section cngaging'the chute to secure it in position, a movable member for preventing the movement of the cornice section and a key lock for controlling it.

34. A. mail chute having two movable ends ex tending between the arms of the bracket.

permitting access to combination with de- 35. A mailchute having a movable portion or panel for permitting access to the interior thereof, in combination Wlth a plurality of securing devices for said portion connected for I "simultaneous operation, a hinged member adapted when in one position to engage and prevent the disengagementof said securing devices and a key lock for securing said member in position.

36. A mail chute having two movable panels or portions for permitting access to the interior thereof, in combination with longitudinally movable locking bars, one for each panel, a movable member adapted to be moved into contact with the adjacent ends of the panels and a key locking device for securing said member in position.

37. The combination with a support, of a mail chute embodying two separately removable channels open at one side, movable panels for closing the open sides of the channels, locking devices on the channels for securing the panels in position, a movable member arranged at the adjacent ends of the channels and preventing when in one position, the unlocking movementof one of the locking devices and the removal of the channels and a key lock for securing said member.

38. The combination with a support, a mail chute embodying separable parts to permit access to the interior, of a locking device operable by a key for securing the parts together and to the support.

39. The combination with a support, a mail chute embodyin a separable front and back and a locking device operable by a key for securing said parts together and to the sup port.

10. The combination with a support, a mail chute embodying the separable front and back portions, of a n'iovablc member for securing said front and back together and to the supportand a key lock on said member for securing it in position,

41." The combination with a support, a mail chute section composed of a rear portion and a front portion separable to permitacccss to the interior of means for securing said parts together and to the support and locking devices operable by a key for securing said nouns in position.

42. In a mail chute an inclosing hand having sides and u back adapted to be fixed to the support of said chute, a front member hinged at one side and a locking device at the opposite side.

&3. A. mail chute having a movable portion or panel for permitting access to the interior thereof, in combination with securing devices for said portion, a bar hinged at. one side of the chute and adapted to extend over the panel and arranged when in one position to engage and-prevent the operation of said securing devices and a key lock for 1 securing said bar in position to fasten the parts.

44. A mail chute having two movable portions 01' panels for permitting access to the interior thereof, in combination With securi ugdevices for said portions, 9. bar hinged at one side of the chute and adapted to extend-over and engage the adjacent ends of the two portions and also engaging-and preventing the operation of the securing device,

and a key lock for preventing the unauthorized movement of said bar.

JOSEPH WARREN CUTLER.

Witnesses IiUSSEnL B. URIFFITH, J. H. GILMORE, Jr. 

